CAMBRIDGE NEWS | 1
FRIDAY MARCH 13, 2020
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MARCH 13, 2020
Bridges: it’s still two for 30
By Jeremy Smith
A third Waikato River bridge for Cambridge remains a project slated for completion in about 30 years’ time. Latest figures have the town’s growth pushing its population over 19,000 - a rise of about 5000 since 2000. But a 2018 Beca report commissioned by the Waipā District Council suggested a third bridge would not be needed much before 2050. The council is sticking to the mid-century time frame – because the project will not qualify for Government funding now - and it doesn’t want to burden ratepayers with the anticipated $65 million price tag for the project. That would change if Cambridge’s population grew sufficiently for the project to attract Government funding. Council transportation manager Bryan Hudson said without Government funding the
cost would fall solely on rate payers. That would be a “huge burden” on the community and prompt a rate rise in the region of 11%. “In order to get funding, there would need to be significant safety problems or issues with congestion. At this stage, neither of these problems exist. The numbers just don’t stack up for now,” Mr Hudson said. Last week’s glowing economic report for Waipā was an early indication that Cambridge’s growth could put the project into the Government’s purview sooner than expected. But another factor in the bridge discussion is that the town’s newest bridge, Fergusson Bridge on Shakespeare St, is underutilised. A $1 million-plus project was completed on Victoria Bridge in 2014 when both sides of the footpath were widened, but not the road itself. Mr Hudson said the project had been
of significant benefit for the large number of people now walking and cycling across Victoria Bridge. As part of its 2018 assessment, Beca suggested four potential locations for a new bridge. They were extending Vogel St south to the river, building a new bridge west of the town belt, extending Hanlin Rd near the Avantidrome and constructing a bridge from the southern end of Hall St. The option of a new bridge beside the now 112-year old Victoria Bridge was also mentioned - with the existing bridge potentially being closed to traffic and only used by walkers and cyclists. Victoria Bridge is the older of Cambridge’s two existing bridges. It opened in December 1907, costing £13,814 to build at the time, while Fergusson Bridge opened in 1964 and cost £41,000.
More than $1 million was invested in the narrow Victoria Bridge in 2014.
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Plate makes Waipā visit
One of Australasian racing’s most treasured prizes – the Cox Plate has been in Waipā this week. The silverware was at Shaune Ritchie’s Cambridge stables yesterday from 11am and is touring New Zealand regions as part of the promotion to celebrate this year’s 100th running of the 2040m Gr.1 W.S. Cox Plate race at Melbourne’s Moonee Valley on October 24.
Bonecrusher
Kiwis have a great connection with the Cox Plate and the Ritchie family has had a personal taste of what success in the race feels like. Shaune’s father Frank trained a gelding by the name of Bonecrusher – owned by Peter Mitchell. Bonecrusher won the 1986 Cox Plate in what was then dubbed ‘The Race of the Century’, in a photo finish with another New Zealand horse, Waverley Star. Four-time winning jockey Brent Thomson has also been on hand as the famous piece of silverware tours New Zealand. The Cox Plate race is open to horses aged three years old and over, under weight for age conditions. With stakes of $5 million Australian, it is the country’s richest weight-for-age race.